Book Review: Positive thinking does not conquer all

By Elaine Valovic
Net.Worker, 05/21/01

The Home Office Solution, by Alice Bredin with Kirsten Lagatree ($14.95, John Wiley and Sons, 1998)

Home office workers may confront a slew of problems, it seems. In The Home Office Solution, syndicated columnist Alice Bredin deals with them all, and in doing so, wavers between the mundane and the ridiculous.

Bredin, who claims her column has "helped millions of people around the world learn to thrive in the home office environment," is also the resident expert of the American Express Small Business Exchange Web site, and owner of Bredin Business Information.

At best a motivational read, The Home Office Solution tackles such topics as how to turn rejection into accomplishment, avoid isolation traps, be sure you are eating, sleeping and exercising enough, the mechanics of negotiating with spouses, toddlers and babysitters, as well as how to be a good boss to yourself. Unfortunately, Bredin's high-volume positivism, penchant for platitudes and drive-by solutions don't offer much to take away.

For example, when discussing problems faced by mothers who work at home while caring for small children, Bredin's answer is to simply hire a babysitter. While an obvious "solution" for the upwardly mobile, mothers struggling to make ends meet won't find much help or empathy here.

Written in a clear and conversational style, the book groups all home workers together, but is slanted to home-based business owners rather than corporate employed teleworkers. The final and most useful chapter deals with setting up and furnishing an ergonomically correct home office. While you won't find advice on specific products, the chapter lays out the basic problems caused by poorly designed furniture. Again, however, the author takes the high road, suggesting readers replace poor equipment with pricey upgrades. In fact, Bredin appears to be blind to cost issues throughout the book, which is unfortunate.

GOOD for anyone addicted to "can-do" books.

BETTER for homeworkers who feel overwhelmed by problems due to life changes

BEST for organizationally challenged home office newbies.

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